There are different ways you can choose to set up a QT, but since most aquarists only purchase one or two new fish at any one time, 10 to 20 gallon sized tanks are a good choice. Here are some ways to set up a QT.
- Set up a bare bottom tank and provide adequate aeration and filtration. This can be accomplished using a compact hang-on-tank canister (read product reviews & compare prices) or wet/dry type power filter (compare prices) to provide mechanical, as well as biological filtration if a few pieces of live rock are not available to put in the tank. Add a heater (read product reviews & compare prices), thermometer, a single bulb fluorescent light hood for dim lighting, and some PVC pipe cuttings large enough for the fish to get in and out of for them to hide in. This type of QT set up is very easy to clean, maintain, and allows medications to be more accurately regulated.
- You can choose to set up a QT just like you would a regular tank and buy a good quality, complete aquarium set up. By setting up this way it looks nice, and if you decide you want another tank in the future, it already has all the components you need to convert it over. However, with this type of set up, the rocks, substrate and filter media make it harder to maintain specific required medication levels when treating sick fish, particularly with copper treatments, because they can be absorbed by these objects in the aquarium.
- You can choose to purchase a mini-aquarium system that incorporates complete 3-stage filtration into one compact unit. These are is ideal for using as a QT. A few good examples; CPR's MRT (Micro Reef Tank) and LT3 Lifetank, and Marineland's Eclipse Systems.
- When choosing a filter for the QT, pick one that is the same or very similar in structure to that being used on an established aquarium that any seeded bio-media is to come from. For example; if using a wet/dry type filter with a bio-media chamber, use a similar type filter on the QT. It is much easier to place the seeded media into the QTs filter, because it more closely matches the same type that is going to be used.
- When treating sick fish, they don't need to be subjected to any additional stress, and this includes notable changes in water quality. It is important to regularly test the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH levels, particularly more often when treating the QT with medications, as many types will weaken and even kill the biological filter altogether. For this reason you need to be aware of what's happening in the tank. It is smart to keep some AmQuel or other type of ammonia destroyer and/or some extra made up saltwater on hand, as these can be used to help reduce an ammonia spike quickly if this problem arises.
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